Which date is observed each year as World Emoji Day?

World Emoji Day is observed each year on July 17. The unofficial celebration was created by Jeremy Burge, founder of the emoji reference site Emojipedia, and the first World Emoji Day was held in 2014.

Burge chose July 17 partly because Apple’s calendar emoji displayed that date. The date therefore became closely associated with the holiday, although calendar emoji designs have not always shown July 17 on every platform. Some versions have displayed other dates for company-specific reasons, which can cause confusion about the official observance.

World Emoji Day is used to celebrate emoji culture, discuss new characters and highlight how pictographs are used in digital communication. Emojipedia often marks the occasion with emoji-related announcements and awards. It is not a United Nations observance or a formal public holiday; it is a popular internet-era celebration organized around a globally recognized communication system.